Alakh N Sahu / Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm.

4(3), May Jun 2013

Review Article
www.ijrap.net
NANOTECHNOLOGY IN HERBAL MEDICINES AND COSMETICS
Alakh N Sahu*
Department of Pharmaceutics, IIT (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, India
Received on: 02/01/13 Revised on: 20/02/13 Accepted on: 10/03/13

*Corresponding author
E-mail: ansahu.phe@iitbhu.ac.in
DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.04334
Published by Moksha Publishing House. Website www.mokshaph.com
All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Nanophytomedicines are prepared from active phytoconstituents or standardized extracts. The world market for nanomedicine is estimated to reach
$130.9 billion by the fiscal year 2016. Liposome nanoparticle (NP) with entrapped doxorubicin has been reported to be 300 fold more effective
because of better pharmacokinetic ability in treatment of Kaposi sarcoma. NP of paclitaxel is used in the treatment of breast cancer. It has increased
water solubility, reduced toxicity and improved therapeutic index. Nanotized herbal drug containing active principles of veteh root, seawort, cassia
twig and liquorice root is found to be effective in pulmonary, liver, bone, brain and skin cancer. The in-vivo pharmacokinetic parameters of polymeric
nanoparticles containing curcumin reveal at least 9 fold increase in oral bioavailability when compared to curcumin administered with piperine as
absorption enhancer. The green nanotechnology utilizes plant based phytochemicals in the overall synthesis and architecture of NP. Cumin and gum
arabic are used for synthesis of gold NP that has reduced toxicity to living organism and environment. Bhasma used in Ayurveda is ancient but ultra
modern nanomedicine prepared from metal. Swarna bhasma has particle size of 56 nm. NP in cosmetics has been used safely and effectively. NP
ingredients like Zno and TiO2 have properties that provide greater degree of protection from sun. Liposome containing Aloe vera extract in size range
less than 200 nm diameter has shown higher rate of cell proliferation and increased synthesis of collagenase in in vitro test using human skin
fibroblast and epidermal keratinocytes.
Keywords: Nanotechnology, Nanoparticle, Nanophytomedicine, Green nanotechnology

INTRODUCTION
The advent of nanotechnology is considered to be the
biggest engineering innovation since the industrial
revolution. Proponents of this new technology promise to
re-engineer the man-made world, molecule by molecule,
sparking a wave of novel revolutionary commercial
products from machines to medicine1. The origin of
nanotechnology is often attributed to a concept advanced
by Richard P. Feynman. The word nano derived from the
greek noun nano meaning dwarf. A nanometer is one
billionth of meter or length of 10 hydrogen atom placed
side by side or 1/80000 of thickness of human hair. The
particle size of nanoparticles (NP) in medicine ranges
from 5 nm - 250 nm. These are produced by various
chemical or physical processes and having specific
properties2.
The world market for products using nanotechnology is
estimated to reach US$1trillion by 2015. Chinese and
Indian government are also investigating and committing
to nanotechnology. In 2006 Indian and Australian
governments contributed 20 million dollars to start
Australia-India Science Research Funding Programme.
According to the report published by BCC Research, the
market value of the worldwide nanomedicine industry
was $63.8 billion and $72.8 billion in 2010 and 2011,
respectively. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR
of 12.5% to reach $130.9 billion by the fiscal year 2016.
The market for anti-cancer products was valued at $28
billion in the fiscal year 2011 when compared to the 2010
value of $25.2 billion. It is anticipated to reach $46.7
billion by the fiscal year 2016 for a CAGR of 10.8%
during the period 2011-2016

Tools in Nanotechnology
Cantilever
Cantilever is a tiny bar anchored to one end can be
engineered to bind to molecule associated with cancer.
These molecule bind to alter DNA protein that present in
cancer cell3.
Nanopores
Nanopores allow DNA to pass through one strand at a
time hence DNA sequencing can be made more
efficiently. Thus shape, electrical property of each base on
strand can be monitored. As these properties are unique
for each of four bases that make up genetic code. The
passage of DNA through a nanopore can be used to
decipher the encoded information including error in code
associated with cancer.
Fullerene
A fullerene is any molecule composed entirely of carbon,
in the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube.
Spherical fullerenes are also called buckyballs, and
cylindrical ones are called carbon nanotubes or
buckytubes. Fullerenes are similar in structure to graphite,
which is composed of stacked graphene sheets of linked
hexagonal rings; but they may also contain pentagonal (or
sometimes heptagonal) rings.
Nanotubes
These are smaller than nanopores. Nanotubes are about
half of the diameter of molecule DNA. It helps to exactly
pin point location of changes in mutated region associated
with cancer. These are first tagged with bulky molecule.
Using nanotube tip on a record player the physical shape
of DNA can be traced.
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Alakh N Sahu / Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 4(3), May Jun 2013
Dendrimers
These are tree like macromolecules with branching reach
out from central core. These branched macromolecules
are constructed around a simple core unit. Dendrimers
have a high degree of molecular uniformity, narrow
molecular weight distribution, specific size and shape
characteristics, and a highly functionalized terminal
surface. The manufacturing process is a series of
repetitive steps starting with a central initiator core. Each
subsequent growth step represents a new "generation" of
polymer with a larger molecular diameter, twice the
number of reactive surface sites, and approximately
double the molecular weight of the preceding generation3,
4
.
Classification of nanoparicles
Labile Nanoparticles:
Liposomes , micelles,
polymers, nanoemulsions etc3.
Insoluble Nanoparticles: TiO2, SiO2, fullerens,
quantum dots, carbon lattices, nanotubes etc3.
One dimensional nanomaterial: Nanowire and
nanotube4
Two dimensional nanomaterial: Self assembled
monolayer film4
Nanophyotomedicine Nanotechnology in Herbal
Drugs
Nanophytomedicines are prepared from active
phytoconstituents or standardized extracts. Use of
Nanophytomedicine improves efficacy and bioavailability
of administered drugs. They also decrease the side effects
and toxicity of administered drugs.
Anticancer therapy
The benefit of using nanotechniques in anticancer therapy
is target delivery of anticancer drugs with fewer side
effects. Liposomes with entrapped doxorubicin were
reported to be 300 fold more effective because of better
pharmacokinetic ability in treatment of Kaposi sarcoma.
Nanoparticles surface modified with cationic chitosan
were efficient for drug delivery both in vitro and in vivo.
Abraxane is approved for the treatment of breast cancer.
Abraxane is a nano-formulation of paclitaxel conjugated
to nanobead protein structure. The nanobead protein
conjugated formulation increases water solubility
allowing for elimination of the toxicity associated with
the solvent vehicle (cremophor) and improved therapeutic
index. Nanotized herbal drug containing active principles
of veteh root, seawort , cassia twig and liquorice root is
found to be effective in pulmonary, liver, bone, brain
and skin cancer. This nanoformulation enter cancerous
cell without damaging healthy cell5-8.
Nanocurcumine
Curcumine is fat soluble molecule which has poor water
solubility, greatly limiting its bioavailability. Curcumine
also metabolised quickly further reducing its
bioavailability. These problems have lead to search for a
super-curcumin that deliver all of benefits in a more
usable and bioavailable form. This problem is solved by
tiny particle of curcumine encapsulated in oil cavity
surrounded by membrane. Encapsulation in these tiny

particles allows lipid soluble curcumine to be better

absorber and also slow the release into blood stream,
enhancing and improving bioavailability. In vitro and
animal study has suggested that curcumine may have
and
anti
antitumour,
antioxidant,
antiarthritic
inflammatory activity. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies
reveal that curcumine entrapped nanoparticle demonstrate
at least 9 fold increase in oral bioavailability when
compared to curcumine administered with piperine as
absorption enhancer9.
Green nanotechnology (Cumin- mediated gold
nanoparticle)
Several of the currently used nanoparticle production
process utilize toxic chemical either in the form of
reducing agent to reduce various metal salt to their
corresponding nanoparticle or as stabilizing agents to stop
NP from agglomeration. For example hydrazine and
sodium borohydride that are currently used in reduction
reaction of gold to produce gold and various metallic
Nanophytomedicine. Both of them are highly toxic to
living organism and environment. The utility of plant
based phytochemicals in the overall synthesis and
architecture of Nanophytomedicine. Connection between
plant science and nanotechnology provide inherently
green approach to Nanotechnology referred as green
nanotechnology. The powerful antioxidant characteristics
of various phytochemicals within cumin contain
functional group such as carboxyl, amino, thiol and
hydroxyl including cuminaldehyde, alpha and beta
pinene, cuminin alcohol, p-cymine and beta terpene
within cumin will provide synergistic chemical reduction
power for reduction of gold salt to their corresponding
gold Nanophytomedicine. Experimental study shows that
none of the individual constituent are potentially reducing
and stabilising gold Nanophytomedicine, whereas cocktail
of the entire chemical along with gum arabic are
responsible for synthesis of gold Nanophytomedicine in
aqueous medium10.
Ayurvedic Bhasma - a nano preparation
Bhasma used in Ayurveda for treatment of various disease
for the past several centuries, is the oldest form of
nanotechnology. Bhasma is ancient but ultra modern
nanomedicine prepared from metal after many scientific
process to raw material into the therapeutically active
form. This is done through classical process by repeated
incineration and grinding with some herbal juice and
other specified drug. Due to its small size basic character
gets changed. It is mainly due to change in electrical,
thermal, inorganic, optical, chemical and biological
behavior. Swarna Bhasma is a therapeutic form of gold
metal of nano size particle. When evaluated by various
tool and techniques like AFM (atomic force microscope),
SEM (scaning electron microscope), it was found that the
size of particle was 56 nm. Analysis by FT-IR and XRD
shows that pure Au in zero valency state11.
Natotechnology in Cosmetics
NP in personal care product sits on top of the skin care
formulation. Nanoparticle in sunscreen has been used
safely and effectively by consumer for decade to protect
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Alakh N Sahu / Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 4(3), May Jun 2013
UV
rays
and
skin
cancer.
from harmful
Nanophytomedicine ingredients like ZnO and TiO2 have
properties that provide greater degree of protection from
sun.
Aloe vera extract in nanoparticle
Aloe vera extract that is formulated in cream or gel widely
use for skin care mostly in dermatitis, psoriasis, dryness,
scaling, flaking, eczema, sunscreen lotion and anti aging
preparations. According to recent study scientist in Japan
claims that Aloe vera extract is unable to cross stratum
cornium. Penetration of such hydrophilic compound into
skin is highly suppressed by water impermeable barrier of
stratum cornium which is composed of protein rich
nonviable cells and intercellular lipid domain. One
potential solution is increasing dose administered to skin
but it could lead to inflammation. They have investigated
liposome containing Aloe vera from soybean lecithin that
could enhance penetration. After preparing Aloe vera
containing liposome, having diameter less than 200 nm, in
vitro test using human skin fibroblast and epidermal
keratinocytes has been performed. According to study cell
proliferation rate has been significantly higher with the
liposomal Aloe vera than non-encapsulated. In addition
collagenase synthesis has increased by 23% with
liposomal extract compared with 4% non encapsulated
extract12.
CONCLUSION
The combination of nanotechnology with traditional
herbal medicine may provide a very useful tool in
designing future herbal medicine with improved
bioavailability profile and less toxicity. The connection
between plant sciences and nanotechnology has the
potential to develop an attractive symbiosis between
green revolution and nanotechnology with realistic
prospects for minimizing the application and generation
of toxic chemicals that destroy living organisms and our
environment. High priority must be given to investing

resources in determining how best

nanotechnology safely and ethically.

to

manage

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Cite this article as:
Alakh N Sahu. Nanotechnology in herbal medicines and cosmetics. Int.
J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 2013;4(3):472-474

Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared

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